Easy Coffee Recipes

Archives for June 2007

Interesting Coffee Facts

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Coffee may be a common beverage, but it has a great story to tell.  The start for the lowly coffee bean has been a slow process that eventually led it into the state of prominence that it now enjoys. And not only that, there are also some very interesting facts about coffee that you should know.

The enduring fascination of man with coffee has stemmed from a rich history that took the coffee bean from its origins in Ethiopia to its eventual spread into worldwide consciousness. The first coffee plants were so highly regarded by the Arabs that they prevented its spread to other countries by boiling the coffee berries first before they marketed them to prevent any chance of being cultivated outside their territory.

Coffee, when it was first introduced in Europe, was first known as “Arabian Wine”. In England during the 1600’s, coffee was considered as a medicinal tonic or brew, probably due to its stimulating effects. The belief in its medicinal properties became so seriously accepted that wild medical contraptions were eventually built in order to administer a mixture of coffee and an assortment of heated butter, honey, and oil as accepted treatments for the sick.

It further grew in popularity so much so that it was commonly sold by street vendors in street carts in typical Arabian style. This was the accepted practice of selling coffee all around Europe until the late 1700’s when the first French cafe was opened. Coffee became so popular all over Europe that by 1763, there were over 200 coffee shops in Venice alone.

The popularity and the allure of coffee continue to grow. Currently, about 52 percent of Americans drink coffee regularly. The average annual coffee consumption of a typical American adult is about 400 cups, which amounts to 26.7 gallons. The United States is considered as the world’s largest coffee consumers.

It imports an estimated 16 to 20 million bags yearly. This is equivalent to one-third of all coffee exported in the world. The typical coffee drinker in the US drinks an average of 3.4 cups of coffee per day.

In other parts of the world, coffee also holds the same appeal. Coffee is the most popular beverage worldwide with a yearly consumption of over 400 billion cups. And because of this coffee has become a highly valuable commodity in the world, second only to oil. Scandinavia is considered to have the world’s highest per capita annual coffee consumption, arriving at about 26.4 pounds per person. Japan ranks top three in the world when it comes coffee consumption.

What is Organic Coffee?

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This is the process of growing crops without the use of fertilizers and other substances. This means farmers will work in the fields, let the water give the plants its nutrients and then watch it grow with the help of the sun.

With the help of the US Department of Agriculture, crop rotation has been set in place so that farmers will still be able to cope with the demand of the various coffee products that are sold on the market.
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Different Kinds of Coffee Delights

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When it comes to enjoying coffee today, people seem to benefit from the many choices available today. Thanks to many enterprising individuals who helped made the business of coffee enjoyment a more popular privilege as well as a lifestyle. Before, coffee drinking was considered as an ordinary everyday ritual.

Nobody bothered how they enjoyed their coffee. Most people didn’t have an idea then that there are other ways to enjoy coffee than just the black variety. It wasn’t until Starbucks came into existence that coffee drinking became the popular trend.

With Starbucks and other similar coffee shops offering different varieities of the popular beverage, the evolution of coffee as just an ordinary beverage has come upon us. Nowadays, one may not just order coffee as itself. There are currently a host of choices available that will challenge the taste buds. Aside from the traditional black coffee, there is the espresso to consider.

Espresso is basically coffee made by forcing hot water under high pressure through roasted coffee that has been grounded to an extremely fine powder. This results in having a beverage that produces a rich, flavorful, and almost syrupy beverage.

Its characteristics are due to the extraction and emulsification of the oils found in ground coffee by pressuring hot water through them. Espresso can be enjoyed as a straight shot or mixed with steamed milk and in a lot of other ways.

Aside form the straight shot espresso, there is also the caffe latte that might also be an interesting coffee experience. It is basically coffee served mixed with milk. It can be differentiated with a cappuccino in the sense that it contains more milk and therefore may have a creamier and milkier flavor to it. Cappuccino on the other hand may contain about a one third less milk in a usual serving.

Another coffee beverage becoming more and more popular is the relatively new and unique selection of flavored coffee drinks being offered by more and more coffee shops like Starbucks. These are special creations that are served as hot espresso mixed with a flavored syrup.

The choices has grown as more and more flavors are being mixed with coffee as the base. Nowadays, there are vanilla, Irish creme, almond, hazelnut, and caramel flavored coffee drinks to choose from aside from other exotic fruity flavors such as orange and raspberry coffee drinks.

Antioxidants in Coffee

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Getting eight hours of rest, a good diet and taking multivitamins are the best ways to maintain a healthy body. But did people know that drinking coffee is also beneficial because it has antioxidants?

This was discovered after researchers did further tests to check if there are any effects of drinking coffee aside from increased alertness. Studies conclude that taking two to three cups daily can prevent various diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, depression and the prevention of cavities.

Another study shows that the antioxidants contained in coffee are more effective than those coming from fruits and vegetables. This is because not all of the nutrients here have done much to protect the individual from various diseases.

Aside from coffee, other substances that also contains caffeine, which can help boost the immune system, are tea and chocolate. Red wine or beer is also helpful but these must be consumed in moderation.

Green coffee beans, for example, have something inside called chlorogenic acid. This is an antioxidant that helps regulate the digestive system and makes the body absorb oxygen much better than other liquids.

Regular black coffee on the other hand has caffeic acid, melanoidins and N-methylpyridinium.

There are people who drink coffee with cream, milk or sugar. Even if one or all three are mixed with coffee, the level of antioxidants remains the same so people can still reap the benefits of drinking it.

So, the next time you go to a café and decide to get a drink, chances are coffee will be ordered instead of a cup of tea. You will just have to choose from the different variants now available which could be either hot or cold.

Studies have shown that there is nothing wrong with drinking more than three cups of coffee daily. Some people are able to do it while others can’t. The best thing to do is know when enough is enough. After all, there is always tomorrow and it isn’t that difficult to brew up a new batch. By engaging in other things that will benefit one’s lifestyle, you will surely live until one is in 70’s or 80’s.

The only ones who shouldn’t drink coffee are those who are pregnant, are suffering from heart disease or children who will become restless with the excess energy due to the caffeine.